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March 24, 2026
跪guì(gui4)
The verb 跪 (guì) means 'to kneel.' It is often used in both literal and figurative contexts, such as showing respect or submission in ceremonies or discussions. Kneeling can symbolize humility, reverence, or an act of worship in various cultural rituals.
Strokes13Radical足Frequency#5403DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Kneeling is an important gesture in Chinese culture, particularly in traditional ceremonies like weddings or during ancestral worship, where it signifies deep respect and honor.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person at a wedding kneeling down to propose with a ring. The character 跪 looks like a person on their knees (the bottom part is similar to a person in a kneeling position), and 'guì' sounds like 'greet,' which is what you do when you kneel to show respect.
Meanings of 跪
guì(gui4)
1to kneel
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 跪
跪Simplified
13Strokes
足Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5403Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 跪
Podcast: 跪
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AI Study Notes for 跪
Quick Contrast
跪 (guì) vs 蹲 (dūn) — use 跪 when referring specifically to kneeling, often in a context of respect or submission, while 蹲 refers to squatting, a different posture.
Usage Notes
Be aware that using 跪 inappropriately can come off as overly formal or disrespectful in casual conversations. It is often paired with words like '拜' (bài, to worship) when discussing religious practices or formal events.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 跪 connects to other verbs related to physical actions or postures, such as 坐 (zuò, to sit) and 站 (zhàn, to stand). Focus on the context and emotional connotations when using this word in sentences.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 跪 with 站 (zhàn, to stand) due to similar contexts of posture. For instance, saying '我想站' (wǒ xiǎng zhàn, I want to kneel) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我想跪' (wǒ xiǎng guì).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 跪
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Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 危 represents the sound.
1The meaning half足 carries the sense.
2The sound half危 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayfoot
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 跪? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 跪?
Decomposition of 跪
IDS Structure⿰足危
跪Full Character
=
足ju4
left
危Wei1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 跪?
How to say to kneel in Chinese
“to kneel” in Chinese is跪guì
The verb 跪 (guì) means 'to kneel.' It is often used in both literal and figurative contexts, such as showing respect or submission in ceremonies or discussions. Kneeling can symbolize humility, reverence, or an act of worship in various cultural rituals.
When to use 跪
Be aware that using 跪 inappropriately can come off as overly formal or disrespectful in casual conversations. It is often paired with words like '拜' (bài, to worship) when discussing religious practices or formal events.
跪 or something close to it
跪 (guì) vs 蹲 (dūn) — use 跪 when referring specifically to kneeling, often in a context of respect or submission, while 蹲 refers to squatting, a different posture.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 跪 with 站 (zhàn, to stand) due to similar contexts of posture. For instance, saying '我想站' (wǒ xiǎng zhàn, I want to kneel) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我想跪' (wǒ xiǎng guì).
Write 跪
跪
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Grammar Patterns of 跪
跪 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
我____了下来，祈求得到指引。
I went down on my knees and prayed for guidance.
Example Sentences for 跪 (10)
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1
我跪了下来，祈求得到指引。
wǒ guì le xià lái， ， qí qiú dé dào zhǐ。
I went down on my knees and prayed for guidance.
2
他跪在她的旁边，双手握住她的一只手。
tā guì zài tā de páng biān， ， shuāng shǒu wò zhù tā de yī zhī。
He knelt beside her and caught her hand in both of his.
3
他虔诚地跪在床边。
tā qián chéng dì guì zài chuáng biān。
He was kneeling by his bed in an attitude of devotion.
